Pattern Formation During Oogenesis in D. melanogaster

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The long term goal of this proposal is to understand how positional information is established in the Drosophila egg during oogenesis. Dr. Cohen is focussing on the expression and function of the K10 and C factor genes. His interest in K10 stems from its known requirement in the establishment of dorso-ventral polarity in the egg; females deficient for K10 gene activity produce abnormally shaped eggs that, if fertilized, die as embryos. Dr. Cohen's recent data indicate that K10 is transcribed exclusively in nurse cells, but that its transcripts are selectively and rapidly transported into the oocyte where they are translated. Genetic and molecular approaches will be used to identify the proteins involved in the transport of K10 RNA from nurse cells to oocytes. Dr. Cohen's interest in C factor stems from its potential role as both an activator of transcription in nurse cells and a repressor of transcription in oocytes. The exclusive synthesis of RNAs in nurse cells appears to be a prerequisite for the subsequent localization of some RNAs to specific regions of the oocyte. To elucidate C factor function he will; 1) determine the distribution of C factor protein in nurse cells and oocytes, and 2) identify/generate C factor mutants.